As that old Grateful Dead tune goes "Tennessee, Tennessee, There ain't no place I'd rather
be…"
Although some folks are always going to poke fun at the south (We're looking at you, Yankees!),
Tennessee is arguably one of the best places in the US to live.
The Volunteer State, as it's known, is home to a thriving music scene, high-quality whiskey
distilleries, and the Great Smokey Mountains.
Not only was it the birthplace of the blues, but it was also the place where the King of
Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley, famously established his Graceland home.
Tennessee is a state that boasts a very low cost of living, making it an ideal place to
live if you're working with a lower budget.
Honestly, it's hard to think of many reasons you wouldn't want to live in Tennessee.
If you prefer the city, places like Nashville or Knoxville offer many of the same amenities,
creature comforts, and cultural draws that the bigger and more famous US cities do.
And if you're looking to live out in the country, you'd be hard-pressed to find a state that
offers more beautiful scenery.
While defining the best places to live in Tennessee ultimately boils down to a matter
of personal preference, you'll likely find much to love about the state if you give it
a chance.
Keep watching to see our picks of the best places to live in Tennessee.
Brentwood
With a population of just over 40,000, Brentwood, Tennessee, is one of the most beautiful and
safe Nashville suburbs.
Brentwood regularly ranks not only as one of the best places to live in Tennessee but
also in the US overall.
It's known for its rolling hills and lush greenery and is home to 13 parks featuring
hundreds of acres of open space.
Nature lovers, hikers, and outdoor sports fans will fall in love with Brentwood, but
since it's so close to Nashville, so will city slickers.
Brentwood is a fairly affluent suburb.
As such, not everyone can afford to live here, but if you can, it's an excellent place to
put down roots and raise a family.
It's also conveniently located with easy access to the Nashville international airport.
So, if you have to travel a lot for work, you're in luck.
Chattanooga
You can't go wrong with Chatt Town, as the locals like to call it.
It's a city that perfectly blends elements of both city and country life.
It's arguably one of the prettiest places to live in the state, and it's located just
north of the Tennessee-Georgia state line.
Known as the 'Scenic City', Chattanooga is an unbelievably desirable place to call home.
The city's natural beauty owes a lot to the fact that it's located directly between the
Appalachian Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau.
Around town, you'll find popular attractions such as the Tennessee Aquarium and the National
Medal of Honor Heritage Center.
Franklin
Franklin is located in Williamson county and has a population of approximately 68,000 residents.
Median home value is much lower than wealthier towns near Nashville like Brentwood, and the
area has received national recognition for its fabulous school system.
Franklin furthermore is a very historic city owing to its connection with the Civil War.
It features a much beloved and business-rich downtown, and with over 200 eateries, you'll
never have a craving that you can't fill.
In fact, you won't find as many restaurants lumped together in one location anywhere in
the state as you will in Franklin.
Garden & Gun Magazine named Franklin the “Best Southern Town’ back in 2014.
And really, it’s not hard to see why!
Hendersonville
This Nashville suburb is located along Old Hickory Lake’s shores.
Because of its location, Hendersonville offers residents an abundance of water activities
to participate in.
From fishing to boating and swimming, you’ll fall in love with the town’s 26 miles of
lakefront shoreline.
But even if access to the water isn't your primary concern, you'll also find numerous
parks, historical and natural landmarks, and a broad range of other recreational opportunities
in and around town.
Be sure to check out the Streets of Indian Lake.
This entertainment complex is home to many shops and restaurants that offer residents
plenty of opportunities to enjoy themselves.
Nolensville
If you're looking to relocate to a place that's ideal for raising a family, Nolensville certainly
sits high atop the list.
This relatively small Nashville suburb is very proud of its tight-knit community which
features a high number of growing families.
Seeing as how it's located between two of the state's most significant metro areas,
Nashville and Murfreesboro, it, unfortunately, can be a bit pricey in terms of rent.
Even so, with its highly-rated schools and bustling local economy, Nolensville continues
to attract plenty of new residents every year.
Plus, given its proximity to Nashville, you'll be close to all of the dining and entertainment
options that the big city has to offer.
Mt.
Juliet
This town is about twenty miles east of Nashville.
It's also known for being one of the best places in the state to start a small business.
So, if you're an aspiring entrepreneur or are thinking about relocating your already
established business, this is one town that you should definitely put on your radar.
Cost of living is about average, but there are quite a few residents who are blessed
with relatively high incomes.
The town is located between Percy Priest Lake and the Cumberland River.
This explains how it earned its nickname of ‘the city between the lakes’.
If you're looking for a small town with a lot of charm and an abundance of natural beauty,
Mt.
Juliet just might be an ideal place for you to set up shop and call home.
Kingsport
This rapidly growing town in Sullivan County offers a ton of restaurants, and countless
live entertainment options, and is just all around a fantastic place to live.
It's located just 10 miles away from the Tennessee-Virginia border and is within just a short drive from
many national and state parks as well as quite a few lakes.
Once again, this is a town that’s perfect for lovers of the great outdoors, and since
the cost of living is relatively low, you won’t have to spend an arm and leg to live
here.
Nashville
As the most populous metropolitan area in the state, Nashville naturally has a little
bit of something for everyone.
It’s widely regarded as one of the best cities in the state to live and for anyone
that’s ever been there before, you already know that it’s one of the prettiest.
Nashville draws in millions of visitors every year thanks to the fact that it's considered
to be the capital of country music.
With all of that tourism, a ton of money is pumped back into the community.
So, if you're thinking about starting a business, there are very few better places in the state
to do so.
This state capital sits along the Cumberland river.
Its bustling downtown district features countless live music venues, bars, restaurants, museums,
and other noteworthy attractions, including the Country Music Hall Of Fame.
Suffice to say, you'll never have a dull night when hitting up the town in Nashville.
Townsend
For those who want to live in the Appalachians, Townsend is a great place to start looking
for your dream mountain home.
It's located about a forty-five-minute drive from Knoxville and sits along the Little River.
Technically, Townsend is connected to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
It's also adjacent to Cades Cove.
Because of this, it's one of the most picturesque small towns in all of Tennessee.
In fact, It's considered to be one of three 'gateways' to the Smokies.
Beautiful natural countryside merges with a lovely small-town vibe, making this an ideal
town for anyone that enjoys getting lost in nature and indulging in outdoor activities
like hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and hunting.
Around the year, Townsend plays host to many festivals, and it's also known for having
many shops, galleries, boutiques, and cafes in its quaint downtown area.
Germantown
Germantown should be one of the first places you look into when planning to move to Tennessee.
It's a suburb of Memphis that has a population of just under 40,000.
Cost of living is low, and housing is very affordable.
The average income is also among one of the highest in the state.
Unlike its closest city, the crime rate is fairly low.
Schools in Germantown are among some of the highest-rated in Tennessee.
There is also a high percentage of households with children.
Oak Ridge
This planned city has been doing its own thing since the 1950s.
In the last seven decades, it's developed a thriving community atmosphere with an open
suburban feel.
Initially, Oak Ridge was created to develop technologies that would help end the Second
World War.
Today, it’s home to the Department of Energy as well as a national laboratory.
Because of this, its 30,000 residents have plenty of excellent work opportunities.
Oak Ridge has some of the lowest crime rates in Tennessee, while its cost of living and
housing rates are well below the US average.
Murfreesboro
This city is one of the fastest-growing metros in the state.
Today, it has a population of just over 136,000.
The influx in residents hasn't resulted in an increase in housing costs – let's just
hope that doesn't change – and transplants can look forward to enrolling their kids in
a very solid school system.
There are plenty of public parks to enjoy as well as rich culture and dining scene.
Murfreesboro is just about 40 minutes from downtown Nashville.
It’s also home to Middle Tennessee State University.
Gatlinburg
Located in the foothills of the Smokies, Gatlinburg has some of the most affordable housing of
any major town in Tennessee.
There are more than two dozen schools in the area, and the majority of those are highly
rated.
But what really draws new residents to town is the Gatlinburg lifestyle.
Both locals and out-of-towners alike can be found in high numbers enjoying the downtown
streets with its many breweries, distilleries, restaurants, museums, attractions, and theaters.
Plus, within just a few minutes' drive, you can be hiking through some of the largest
mountains on the east coast.
While you might think of Gatlinburg and its neighbor Pigeon Forge as being tourist towns,
they're also some of the best places in the states to call home.
With that, we’ll go ahead and wrap this video up.
But before you go, take a moment to drop us a line in the comments with some of your thoughts
on living in Tennessee.
Did you know that there were so many fantastic places to live in the state, and where would
you consider moving to in Tennessee if you had the chance?
Let us know.